Multimode Retail System

• US 20110321173A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Weston, Timothy Martin, Tang, Weiming, Spiller, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1033 Details of the PIN pad
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1091 Use of an encrypted form of the PIN

Abstract

A multimode system for receiving data in a retail environment includes: a secure input module for receiving high security input and low security input from a customer, the high security input to be communicated by the secure input module in cipher text, and the low security input to be communicated by the secure input module in plaintext. The multimode system is adapted to operate in a high security mode and a low security mode. The multimode system is adapted to enter the low security mode upon detection by the multimode system of a security breach condition. In the high security mode, the secure input module accepts low security input and high security input. In the low security mode, the secure input module accepts the low security input and does not accept the high security input.

Claims

1. A multimode system for receiving data in a retail environment, comprising:

a secure input module for receiving high security input and low security input from a customer, the high security input to be communicated by the secure input module in cipher text, and the low security input to be communicated by the secure input module in plaintext;

wherein the multimode system is adapted to operate in a high security mode and a low security mode;

wherein the multimode system is adapted to enter the low security mode upon detection by the multimode system of a security breach condition;

wherein, in the high security mode, the secure input module accepts low security input and high security input; and

wherein, in the low security mode, the secure input module accepts the low security input and does not accept the high security input.

2. The multimode system of claim 1, the low security mode selected from a plurality of low security modes.

3. The multimode system of claim 1, the multimode system further comprising a non-secure input module which accepts low security input in the low security mode and in the high security mode.

4. The multimode system of claim 1, the multimode system further comprising a second secure input module which accepts low security input and high security input in the low security mode and in the high security mode.

5. The multimode system of claim 1, the multimode system further comprising a customer display which displays a limited function message to customers when the multimode system is in the low security mode.

6. The multimode system of claim 5, the limited function message comprising instructions to initiate a transaction at another location.

7. The multimode system of claim 5, the limited function message comprising a listing of payment types that are disabled in the low security mode.

8. The multimode system of claim 1, the high security input comprising a personal identification number.

9. A method for operating a multimode system in a retail environment, comprising:

operating in a high security mode in which a secure input module accepts low security input and high security input, the low security input to be communicated by the secure input module in plaintext and the high security input to be communicated by the secure input module in ciphertext;

detecting a security breach condition; and

in response to the detecting, operating in a low security mode in which the secure input module accepts the low security input and does not accept the high security input.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting the low security mode from a plurality of low security modes.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising operating a non-secure input module which accepts low security input in the low security mode and in the high security mode.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising operating a second secure input module which accepts low security input and high security input in the low security mode and in the high security mode.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising operating a customer display which displays a limited function message to customers when the multimode system is in the low security mode.

14. The method of claim 13, the limited function message comprising instructions to initiate a transaction at another location.

15. The method of claim 13, the limited function message comprising a listing of payment types that are disabled in the low security mode.

16. The method of claim 9, the high security information including a personal identification number.

17. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a secure payment module (SPM); and

a controller, wherein at least one of the SPM and the controller is communicably coupled or includes a processor and a tangible memory,

wherein the memory stores software comprising instructions, the instructions operable to be executed by the processor to perform operations including;

detect a tamper event of the SPM;

initiate an adjustment of the SPM from a high security mode to a low security mode, wherein the SPM is operable to accept confidential customer information and non-confidential customer information in the high security mode and the SPM is operable to accept only non-confidential customer information in the low security mode.

18. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a secure payment module (SPM) comprising;

a secure keypad; and

a secure processor; and

wherein the SPM is operable to function in at least two modes, the SPM operable to process non-debit and debit transactions in a first mode, the SPM operable to process only non-debit transactions in a second mode, and

wherein the SPM is operable to switch from the first to second mod in response to a tamper event.